Apparatus for producing heat-shrinkable packaging with integrated hand-hold

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for producing heat-shrinkable packaging with an integrated hand-hold with a circuitous path extending from an input loading/unloading zone, a section where the open portion of a heat-shrinkable bag is sealed shut and creating a container in which an object is enclosed, a section in which heat is applied directly to exposed areas of the plastic film of the package for sealing the package, and a section of path enabling the package to cool; trolley apparatus for supporting the package and engaging the circuitous path for movement of the package along the circuitous path; and protrusions positioned along the circuitous path for propelling the device along the designated track route.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Related Art

This invention is related to the patent application entitled: Apparatus for Dividing Heat-Shrinkable Plastic Film into Different Temperature Regions, Ser. No. 13/506,545, Filed Apr. 27, 2012 and owned by REELEX Packaging Solutions, Inc., the same entity as the present invention.

2. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to apparatus for semi-automatically constructing a heat-shrinkable package with an integrated hand-hold by transporting an object to be packaged to each sequence of the apparatus without need for human-based motivation. The invention of the invention in application Ser. No. 13/506,545 defines the technique for packaging a coil in a heat-shrinkable package, whereas the present invention enables semi-automatic package of a number of packages, not limited to a coil. This invention allows the construction sequence used to produce the packages to utilize the same trolley-like devices repeatedly, as the trolley-like devices are placed in motion along a circuitous track in which they may be loaded and unloaded in the same area. Several of these trolley-like devices can be placed upon the same track, allowing a single system to increase its package-producing output depending on demand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive apparatus of the invention utilizes the basic techniques employed in the aforementioned patent application, Ser. No. 13/506,405 but extends those techniques to apparatus for reliably and repeatedly producing packages made from heat-shrinkable film material in which an area of the film is isolated from heat and thus remains undisturbed by the shrinking process. The apparatus consists of several components working in sequence to create a finished package in which an object is packaged in a heat-shrinkable film bag. The package is transported through the apparatus via a trolley-like device in which the package is captured and supported. This device is set into motion from below via a circular belt and is restricted in movement by a track designed to bring the package and device to each component in the apparatus.

The apparatus comprises four distinct sections, each of which is essential to the production of packages. The first section is a “loading/unloading zone and is located at one end of the circuit of the apparatus. The second section is an area in which the open portion of the heat-shrinkable bag may be sealed shut via a band sealer. The third section is a heat tunnel in which heat is applied directly to all area of the plastic film not captured by the trolley device. The fourth section is a long section of straight track where the package may cool from the application of heat in the third section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects, features and advantages of the invention are readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the best mode of carrying out the invention when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

Taken from the aforementioned patent application, FIG. 1 is a front view of a heat shrink apparatus with a cylindrical tube positioned the full length of the heat shrink oven and showing a slit running the full length of the cylindrical tube and a platform formed at the entry end of the cylindrical tube. A package to be encased with shrink wrap film is placed in the heat shrink wrap oven alongside the cylindrical tube;

Taken from the aforementioned patent application, FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the heat sink oven illustrating the suction of cool air into the cylindrical tube; the flow of ambient air through the cylindrical tube and exiting at the far end of the tube; the placement of the package having a portion (handle) being placed in the slit in the cylindrical tube; and the movement of the package and the portion of the shrink wrap filament placed in the slit running the length of the heat shrink wrap oven.

FIG. 3 shows a circuitous track placed within a flat table;

FIG. 4 is an underneath view of the circuitous track illustrating details of the circuitous track wherein fitted beneath and alongside the circuitous track is a circuitous belt with pulley wheels driven by an electric motor and several protrusions positioned to be always in line with the track cutout;

FIG. 4A shows the engagement of respective protrusions located in the track cutout;

FIG. 5 illustrates the four distinct sections of the inventive apparatus as outlined above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 heat shrink wrap oven 10 includes platform 11 for supporting package 12 covered by a layer of shrink wrap film 14 which is to tightly cover the package 12 after its passage through the heat shrink wrap oven 10. Cylindrical tube 16 is mounted above and parallel to platform 11 and runs the length of the heat shrink wrap oven 10 as shown in FIG. 1. Cylindrical tube 16 has a slit 18 cut into its side that runs the length of the tube. A platform 20 is cut into the end of the cylindrical tube 10 enabling a portion 22 of the shrink wrap film 14 to rest on platform 20 prior to being fed into slit 18. Portion 22 of the shrink wrap film can be a handle or some other portion of the shrink wrap film 14 that is desired to be maintained cooler than the shrink wrap material surrounding the wound package.

FIG. 1 also depicts the flow of air into the platform end of the cylindrical tube 16 that is created by an electrical fan (not shown) mounted at the far end of the platform 20 on the cylindrical tube 10.

In the isometric view of FIG. 2, package 12 is shown placed on platform 11 of the heat shrink wrap oven 10 in a position beside cylindrical tube 16 with handle 22 resting on platform 20 and engaged in the slit (not shown) of the cylindrical tube 16. An electrical fan (not shown) mounted in the end portion 26 of the cylindrical tube 16 sucks cool air 24 into the end of the cylindrical tube 16 having the platform 22 and out of the far end 26 of the cylindrical tube as the package and filament material in the oven move through the oven as shown in FIG. 2.

From the above description it is readily apparent that the invention of the aforementioned patent application provides apparatus for dividing heat-shrinkable plastic film into different temperature regions, for example one section of the heat-shrinkable plastic film has heat applied and another section of the film is isolated and maintained at a cooler temperature when passing through a heat shrink oven, for example. This allows a single shrink-wrap material to assume the characteristics of a shrunk portion and a non-shrunk portion.

The present invention utilizes this process to form heat-shrinkable packaging as applied to a continuous process for manufacturing the heat-shrinkable packages and packaging all manner of objects including coils within the heat-shrinkable packages.

FIG. 3 illustrates a circuitous track (3-1) placed within a flat table (3-2.)

FIG. 4 shows the circuitous belt (4-3) on the circuitous track (4-1) with pulley wheels (4-4) driven by an electric motor (not shown). At predetermined intervals along the belt (4-)3 are several protrusions (4-5) positioned so that they are always in line with the track cutout 2 in FIG. 1. Protrusions (4-)5 serve the purpose of propelling the trolley devices along the designated track route by physical contact with a separate protrusion (4A-6) located below the trolley device (7A-7) (FIG. 4A).

FIG. 5 illustrates the four sections of the apparatus described above.

The first section A is a “loading/unloading” zone and is located at one end of the circuit described with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4. In this zone, track (5-8) is designed to maneuver the trolley device (5-9) away from the driving belt (5-12) to allow the trolley devices (5-9) movement free of propulsion along the track (5-8). By removing the trolley device (5-9) from the driving motion of the belt (5-8), the trolley device (5-9) stops and remains motionless. This allows the operator to manipulate the trolley device (5-9) at will without the package (5-10) being sent through the system. When entering zone A, the system delivers completed packages resting atop the track (3-2) (FIG. 3). The finished packages may (5-10) are ejected from the device by a human operator or automatically and the device of FIG. 4 may be positioned to load a new package (5-11).

Once loaded, the device separates from the drive belt and is pushed manually along the track (3-2) (FIG. 3) to a point (5-12) in which it may be picked up again by the drive belt (5-8). The operation then proceeds to section B.

The second section B is an area in which the open portion of the heat-shrinkable bag may be sealed shut via band sealer (5-13). In this section the device upon which the object rests and in which the film material is captured, is propelled through the band sealer (5-13), thereby sealing the bag and creating a container in which the object is enclosed. The band sealer (5-13) is adjustable for height so that a wide range of objects may be packaged in this manner and a seal may be made as close as possible to the object.

The third section C, in which heat is applied directly to all areas of the plastic film not captured by the trolley device (5-9). During this heat application, the plastic film heats to a temperature where the material transforms from its original state and begins to shrink tightly around the object within the bag.

The fourth section D is a long section of straight track where the package may cool from the heat application. The package and device moves down this section of track for a distance enabling the package to cool and be safely handled by a human operator. The trolley device and package (5-14) then returns to the first section A, where the completed package (5-10) is removed and a new one inserted into the device ad infinitum. 

1. Apparatus for producing heat-shrinkable packaging with an integrated hand-hold, comprising: a circuitous path extending from an input loading/unloading zone, a section where the open portion of a heat-shrinkable bag is sealed shut and creating a container in which an object is enclosed, a section in which heat is applied directly to exposed areas of the plastic film of the package for sealing the package, and a section of path enabling the package to cool; trolley devices for supporting the package and engaging the circuitous path for movement of the package along the circuitous path; and protrusions positioned along the circuitous path for propelling the device along the designated track route. 